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FYI Only: Driving in Europe / Travel Insurance

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Bunnyboileravoider
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FYI Only: Driving in Europe / Travel Insurance

Post by Bunnyboileravoider » Sat Jul 03, 2021 2:03 pm

Ladies & gents - just a quick note to share what I learned from one of my travel insurers yesterday (in this case, Axa).

Medical & travel insurance isn't a scintillating conversation I know, but just as an example: a 20-minute consultation with a GP in Switzerland starts anywhere between CHF100 to CHF200 (£80-160), depending on the Canton, after which you're then billed per additional 5-minute period. A Swiss friend of mine is registered with a GP in France because it's cheaper to pay full whack over the border, versus the 'subsidised' charges in Geneva.

What I learned then, is that the industry is broadly (sweeping statement) using FCDO guidelines https://www.gov.uk/guidance/travel-advi ... oronavirus to determine whether or not a policy is valid at any given moment in time. My 'advisor' was quick to tell me that because the UK's traffic light system is determined and governed by the Dept. for Transport "...we don't restrict or penalise you for entering Amber countries so you're covered...[almost under her breath]...as long as there's no FCDO advice against travelling there".

Well guess what? Most of Europe is being blanket-covered by an FCDO statement (you can check by country, here: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice.

Short version then: even though France will let vaccinated people in, and even though you can legally drive through Italy in <36hrs without mandatory self-isolation, your travel insurance will quite possibly be invalidated by the above. Mine was, so I'm going nowhere for now :x .
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FYI Only: Driving in Europe / Travel Insurance

Post by Pbondar » Sat Jul 03, 2021 2:38 pm

I’ve had quite a few business trips cancelled over the last few months since it was either impossible at any price to get cover and/or the cover was so restrictive as to be meaningless..

Most insurers have added COVID 19 to the same list as ionising radiation, nuclear war etc :thumbsdown:

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FYI Only: Driving in Europe / Travel Insurance

Post by ronk » Sun Jul 11, 2021 11:56 am

Like most of us i suppose - I’ve continued to pay my travel insurance and had the square root of bugger all use from it.

What’s the betting that prices will rise at renewal?
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Post by Bunnyboileravoider » Sun Jul 11, 2021 12:56 pm

Hey Ronk - not saying it’s a certainty, but after that original post I contacted Axa. I had to endure the usual 25 minutes of repeating myself several times, but eventually I got the lady to admit that Axa would reimburse 65% of the annual fee. Consequently I did just that.

But then I’ve since discovered 3 insurers, all of whom provide travel insurance IN AMBER countries, for everything except COVID. I’m fine with that, personally. What’s ridiculous is that they’re all underwritten by guess who…? Axa! The Independent did an article on it - give it a search if it’s of interest. My premium for 60 days in Europe at the low end is £32, and top end is £72.

Long winded way of saying, as with all things insurance, nah them and you’ll get a result.
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Post by ronk » Sun Jul 11, 2021 1:41 pm

My insurance is thro a Barclays Bank account- we pay £12 a month for European only cover - no rebates for the last year!
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Post by pvr » Sun Jul 11, 2021 8:24 pm

I have no idea what I am covered for when I drive through France next week. Think the European insurance card is still valid as far as I know
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Post by mmm-five » Sun Jul 11, 2021 9:26 pm

pvr wrote: Sun Jul 11, 2021 8:24 pm I have no idea what I am covered for when I drive through France next week. Think the European insurance card is still valid as far as I know
have you got your CritAir emissions sticker?
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Post by pvr » Sun Jul 11, 2021 11:03 pm

Uh, my what?
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Post by mmm-five » Mon Jul 12, 2021 9:35 am

pvr wrote: Sun Jul 11, 2021 11:03 pmUh, my what?
Your French emissions sticker to show what emissions level your car is (like the London ULEZ).

Mainly for the restricted emissions towns & cities, but according to some French BMW car club members, the gendarmes are going to use it to more easily 'fine' foreign tourists - as they'll have an easy excuse to pull you over if they don't spot your sticker.

French Air Quality Certificate Service (english page)
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Post by pvr » Mon Jul 12, 2021 10:08 am

Ah, ok. Not planning to go to any cities. Trying to get out of France as soon as possible going north into Belgium. Don't really fancy a lot of French driving after Brexit as the Gendarme was bad enough before that.
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Abarth 595 Comp.
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Post by mmm-five » Mon Jul 12, 2021 10:45 am

pvr wrote: Mon Jul 12, 2021 10:08 am Ah, ok. Not planning to go to any cities. Trying to get out of France as soon as possible going north into Belgium. Don't really fancy a lot of French driving after Brexit as the Gendarme was bad enough before that.
I try to get through France as 'efficiently' as I can - and I've been lucky so far :P

Getting to Spain in a car is difficult if you can't drive through France - and the ferries to Santander/Bilboa are very expensive (£600-£800).

The only other time I go through France is the short hop from Calais/Dunkirk for our Ring trips...but you can just imagine the smiling little weaselly faces on the gendarme's as they pull over every UK car without a CritAir sticker or UK sticker :P
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Post by pvr » Mon Jul 12, 2021 10:56 am

France, beautiful country but spoiled by the French people :D

The entry point in Belgium is one to check out for, they often have the speed check before the first car park after the border and send all the mainly UK cars in there as most don't slow down after the border.
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911-50 Black - unique spec
X5M - 575 hp of fun in a V8
Abarth 595 Comp.
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Z4 3.0 Toledo

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Post by mmm-five » Mon Jul 12, 2021 11:20 am

pvr wrote: Mon Jul 12, 2021 10:56 am France A beautiful country but spoiled by the French people :D
A bit like Scotland, Wales, England, Northern Ireland :P
Trigger’s Z4MC
Some bits now over 163,000 miles, some less than 1,000 miles.
Individual Ruby Black, Individual extended champagne leather, plus many options

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